Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl. By Eoin Colfer. Hyperion, 2001. 277 pages. Tr. $16.95 ISBN 978-0786808014

Summary: It’s been two years after his multimillionaire father’s disappearance in Greece, and Artemis Fowl II needs to step into his dad’s place and provide for his mother and himself. When searching online he finds a secret book that belongs to the people, a group of mythical, elf-like creatures, and threatens a member of the group to reveal the location of the tome. From here he can access the wealth of this group, but can he succeed without being caught by the police or being attacked by a biological weapon?

Critical Review: Others have compared Colfer’s Artemis Fowl to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. I do not see the connection. Artemis II is an evil, vile and selfish little boy. Though he comes to the aid of his insane mother, the moral values on display in Harry Potter are absent here. If you’re looking for Harry Potter readalikes, look to Lemony Snicket, Phillip Pullman, and Brain Jacques.

Genre: Fantasy; Action and Adventure

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years 

Awards: Costa Book Awards (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2001
Galaxy British Book Awards (WON AWARD) 2002
Original Voices Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2002
Nevada Young Reader's Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2003
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2003
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (WON AWARD) 2003
Bilby (Books I Love Best Yearly) Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2003
Young Reader's Choice Award (WON AWARD) 2004
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2004
Iowa Teen Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2005
Nene Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2006
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2004
SCASL Book Award (South Carolina) (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2004
Garden State Teen Book Award (WON AWARD) 2004
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2008

Reviews:  Library Journal (2001, June 15); School Library Journal (2001, May 1); Booklist (2001, April 15); Publishers Weekly (2001, April 9); Kirkus Reviews (2001, April 1)

Series: The Artemis Fowl series

Similar Materials: The Following books in the Artemis Fowl series: The Arctic Incident; The Eternity Code; The Opal Deception; The Lost Colony; The Time Paradox; The Atlantis Complex

Subjects/Themes: law and crime, Europe, kidnapping, England, mothers and sons, fairies, fantasy and magic, action and adventure 

Character Names: Artemis Fowl II; Butler; Captain Holly Shorter; Commander Julius Root; Foaly; Mulch Diggums; Briar Cudgeon

Author Website: http://www.eoincolfer.com/

Brief Annotation: A twelve-year-old criminal mastermind locates an Elfish treasure while surfing on the Internet. 

The Fairy Tale Detectives

The Fairy Tale Detectives. By Michael Buckley. Illustrated by Peter Ferguson. Amulet, 2007. 304 pages. PB $6.95 ISBN 978-0810993228

Summary: After moving from one foster home to another, Daphne and Sabrina receive word that their grandmother is alive and that she wants to care for them. Life with their grandmother is a shock to the girls. Their eccentric grandmother believes in fairies and informs her granddaughters that they are actually related to the Grimm Brothers. Sabrina is certain that this is not her grandmother, and urges her Daphne to runaway. On their journey the sisters meet many characters from the Grimm brother's fairy tales and learn more about themselves. 

Critical Review: Buckley’s novel magically intertwines stories from “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, “The Three Little Pigs”, and “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. Prince Charming is also part of the story, as is the Magic Mirror from “Snow White”. The Grimm sisters learn that they are responsible for writing additional fairy tales, and learn that their grandmother is telling them the truth.

Genre: Mystery; Fantasy; Adventure

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years 

Awards: Beehive Children's Fictional Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2007
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2008
Grand Canyon Reader Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2009

Reviews: School Library Journal (2006, June 1 and January 1); Publishers Weekly (2005, December 19); Voice of Youth Advocates (2005, December 1); Booklist (2005, November 15)

Series: The Sisters Grimm series

Similar Materials: The following books in the Sisters Grimm series: The Sisters Grimm the Unusual Suspects; The Sisters Grimm the Problem Child; The Sisters Grimm: Once Upon a Crime; The Sisters Grimm: Magic and Other Misdemeanors; The Sisters Grimm: Tales from the Hood; The Sisters Grimm: The Everafter War

Subjects/Themes: monsters; multigenerational families; orphans and foster homes; siblings; sisters; grandparents; fairies; everafters

Character Names: Sabrina; Daphne; Grandmother Relda Grimm; Mr. Canis; Puck; Magic Mirror; Jack the Giant Killer; Mayor Charming/Prince Charming; Mama Bear; Tinman; Big Bad Wolf; Mr. Seven; Elvis

Author Website: http://www.sistersgrimm.com/

Brief Annotation: Unsure about whether their grandmother is telling them the truth, Sabrina and Daphne runaway and meet characters from several Grimm Brothers stories. 

Twilight

Twilight. By Stephenie Meyer. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006.

544 pages.  PB $10.99 ISBN 978-0316015844

Summary: When her mother marries Phil Dwyer, a minor baseball player, Bella moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to Forks, Washington, to live with her father, Charlie. In school, Bella quickly becomes friends with Jessica, Angela, Mike and Eric. However, she can’t understand how her biology partner, Edward, dislikes her so passionately. What could she have possibly done to anger him? 

Critical Review: Meyer’s novel is very much written for teenagers. However, it is important to understand what tweens are really reading. Twilight has become so popular with older audiences, making it tempting eye-candy for tweens. While the book is a romance, it is suitable for mature tween readers. Nothing happens in the novel that tweens will not be able to handle. Though Edward and Bella find each other unbelievably irresistible, they do not act upon their feelings. Instead there is a great deal of longing from afar. Edward saves Bella’s life on several occasions, and, though he is a vampire, feeds on animal instead of human blood. Meyer forces Edward to deal with his desire for Bella. It is painful for him to be near her, but it is also beautiful. Learning how to deal with this successfully, without harming his beloved Bella, is of primary importance to this series.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 14-17 years

Awards: School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2005

Reviews: Publishers Weekly (2006, August 28); School Library Journal (2006, February 1); Booklist (2005, November 15)

Series: The Twilight Saga

Similar Materials: The following books in “The Twilight Saga”: New Moon; Eclipse; Breaking Dawn

Subjects/Themes: love and romance; school and education; fantasy and magic; vampires; Washington State; horror and ghost stories; divorced parents

Character Names: Isabella (Bella) Swan; Edward Cullen; Charlie; Renee; Phil Dwyer; Edward Cullen; Jacob Black; James; Harry Clearwater; Tyler Crowley; Lauren Mallory; Mike Newton; Jessica Stanley; Angela Weber; Eric Yorkie; Emily Young

Author Website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

Brief Annotation: An adolescent girl moves to Washington to live with her father and falls in love with a vampire.

The Root Cellar

The Root Cellar. By Janet Lunn. Perfection Learning, 1996. Tr. $15.85 ISBN 978-0812437249

Summary: Up until her grandmother’s recent death, Rose Larkin lived a life of luxury, traveling across the world with her wise, loving grandmother. Now she’s forced to adjust to life with her Aunt Nan and Uncle Bob, and their brood of children, with another one in the way. Rose misses the silence of life with her grandmother, believing that she doesn’t fit in with her Hawthorn Bay relations. One afternoon, when the sun hits the cellar door, she enters a portal into the mid-nineteenth century, becoming friends with Will and Susan. She’s now chosen to return to the past, to help Susan find Will, a soldier in the 81^st regiment.

Critical Review: Lunn’s novel is as alive today as it was when it was first published. Rose’s trials are still relatable to tweens who must deal with the loss of their caregiver, and adjust to life with a new family. Rose’s travels in the past teaches her that she is loved by those in the past and the present. The historical detail is accurate, and the fantastical, science-fiction element is sophisticated. Originally time passes more quickly in the past, however, Rose learns how to control for this by passing along a treasured passion to Sue. The two girls successfully travel to Washington D.C. and find that Will is alive, but not without several troubles along their route. They escape from Steve’s mother, only to lose their luggage. Thankfully they bind together through their hardship, and make it to New Jersey and New York. In New York Rose learns a painful lesson: the New York of the past is completely different than her home. In order to survive, she must rely on her friend and work together.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction; Historical Fiction; Time-Travel Fiction 

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years

Awards: Canadian Library Association Children’s Book of the Year, 1982; Runner up for the Canada Council children’s book award (now the Governor General’s award); Runner up for the Ruth Schwartz (Canadian Booksellers) children’s book of the year, 1981; One of 58 notable books for children chosen by the American Library Association Booklist’s Reviewers’ choice; American National Council of Teachers of English, teacher’s choice for 1983 (one of 24 titles); Honor list, International Board of Books for Young People, 1984;

Winner, in the Junior High Category, of the California Young Reader Medal, 1988

Reviews: Booklist (1987, July 1)

Similar Materials: Philippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden

Subjects/Themes: orphans and foster homes; aunts, uncles and cousins; Ontario, Canada; loneliness; time-travel fiction; Civil War; pregnancy; fantasy and magic; farm and ranch life; science fiction; philosophy

Character Names: Rose Larkin; Will Morrisay; Susan Morrisay; Mrs. Morrisay; Aunt Nan; Uncle Bob; Sam; George; Aunt Millicent; Tom; Steve Jerue; Min Jerue; Uncle Arnold; Aunt Stella

Author Website: http://www.johnlunn.com/janetlunn/

Brief Annotation: An orphaned twentieth-century twelve-year old girl travels back in time to the Civil War, finding love and acceptance in both worlds.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Book and Movie

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. By J. K. Rowling. Turtleback, 2009. 759 pages. By J. K. Rowling. PLB $26.96 ISBN 978-0606004206

Summary: Dumbledore is dead, and Harry Potter now understands the task ahead of him. Rather than enrolling at Hogwarts, he must find Voldemart’s remaining Horcruxes and destroy them. Together with his good friends Ron and Hermoine, Harry confronts this impossible task. The Tales of the Beetle and the Bard convinces the group to seek out Xenophilius Lovegood, who explains the mystery of immortality. A recent biography on Albus Dumbledore forces Harry to question whether he really knew his professor, and the difficult work creates havoc between Harry and his friends. Has Dumbledore adequately prepared Harry for success, or will Voldemart and his followers overthrow the goodness of the wizarding world?

Critical Review: The Deathly Hollows is the bleakest novel from J. K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. Harry, Ron and Hermoine, are no longer children in this story. The fate of the wizarding world hangs in their hands. Finding Voldemart’s Horcruxes takes longer than expected, and Harry is dealing with painful nightmares. Harry feels alone through most of the novel. He no longer has Dumbledore to confide in about his troubles. Reta Skeeter’s biography, however, causes Harry to momentarily question his relationship with Dumbledore. The novel does end happily, however. With the help of Ron and Hermoine Harry retrieves and destroys the remaining Horcruxes, and locates the magical swords and stones. The novel ends happily with Voldemart’s death. A postscript describes Harry hand Ginnie Potter’s children, and Ron and Hermoine’s children embarking upon their Hogwarts career.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 8-14years

Awards: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature, 2008; Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, 2007; Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books, 2007; American Library Association Notable Books for Children, 2008; Bilby (Books I Love Best Yearly) Award, 2008; Audie Award, 2008

Reviews: School Library Journal (2007, September 1); Publishers Weekly (2007, August 13); Booklist (2007, August 1); Publishers Weekly (2007, July 30)

Series: Harry Potter series

Similar Materials: Earlier books in the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Subjects/Themes: wizards, wizards, England, fantasy, magic, friendship

Character Names: Harry Potter; Ronald Weasley; Hermoine Grainger; Hagrid; Luna Lovegood; Xenophilius Lovegood; Ginny Weasley; Draco Malfoy; Molly Weasley; Arthur Weasley; Lucius Malfoy; Charlie Weasley; Bill Weasley; Narcissa Malfoy; Nymphadora Tonks; Remus Lupin; Severus Snape; Voldemart; Bellatrix Lestrange; Mundungus Fletcher; Alaster Moody; Kingsley Shacklebolt; Dobby; Kreacher

Author Website: http://www.jkrowling.com/

Brief Annotation: In the seventh and final volume in the “Harry Potter” series the future of the wizarding world hangs in the balance,  as Harry, Ron and Hermoine locate and destroy Voldemart’s Horcruxes and battle with the darkest wizard.

Part 1 of Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows. Directed by David Yates and Ben Hibon. Produced by David Heyman and David Barron. Warner Brothers, 2010. 146 minutes.

Summary: Overall, I was impressed with Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The movie generally followed the overall-blueprint of J. K. Rowling’s novel. However, there were some omissions which did bother me. For example, Harry Potter’s feelings toward Reta Skeeter’s biography were insufficiently developed in the movie. Moreover, Dobby is buried at Fleur and Bill’s seaside cottage. Bill and Fleur are not mentioned here. Perhaps this will be the starting point of the next movie? I was also disappointed with ending with Voldemart opening Dumbledore’s casket and retrieving the Elder wand. In the book this event is much later than the movie.

Programming: A wonderful programming idea is for tweens to read the novel, and then watch the movie. Tweens can compare and contrast both mediums, defining what they enjoyed most with each and where they found problems.

Actors in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows:

Harry Potter – Daniel Radcliffe

Ronald Weasley – Rupert Grint

Hermione Granger – Emma Watson 

Hagrid – Robbie Coltrane

Remus Lupin – David Thewlis

Severus Snape – Alan Rickman

Charity Burbage – Carolyn Pickles

Albus Dumbledore – Michael Gambon

Horace E. F. Slughorn – Jim Broadbent

Luna Lovegood – Evanna Lynch

Draco Malfoy – Tom Felton

Ginny Weasley – Bonnie Wright

Fenrir Greyback – Dave Legeno

Bellatrix Lestrange – Helena Boham Carter

Lucius Malfoy – Jason Isaacs

Narcissa Malfoy – Helen McCroy

Voldemart – Ralph Finnes

Dolores Umbridge – Imelda Staunton

Mundungus Fletcher – Andy Linden

Alaster Moody – Brendan Gleeson

Kingsley Shacklebolt – George Harris

Nymphadora Tonks – Natalia Tena

Arthur Weasley – Mark Williams

Bill Weasley – Domhnall Gleeson

Charlie Weasley – Alex Crockford

Molly Weasley – Julie Walters

Dudley Dursley – Henry Melling

Petunia Dursley – Fiona Shaw

Vernon Dursley – Richard Griffiths

Mr. Granger – Tom Knight

Mrs. Granger – Heather Bleasdale

Fleur Delacour – Clemence Poesy

Xenophilius Lovegood – Rhys Ifans

Dobby – Toby Jones

Kreacher – Simon McBurney


Movie Website: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/mainsite/index.html

The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle

The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle. By Deva Fagan. Henry Holt & Company, 2010. 272 pages. Tr. $17.99 ISBN 978-0805087437

Summary: Above all, Prunella Bogthistle longs for the day when she is a bona fide bogwitch. Unfortunately her witchery skills are in short supply. Her grandmother is peeved that she cannot even stop Barnaby, a non-magical Uplander, from poaching from her family’s resources and trespassing on their estate. Prunella is kicked out from the family, until she can prove that she is a proper witch. She travels with Barnaby through the Uplands, hopeful that by finding Esmeralda’s grimoire she will be able to learn her spells and return to her family.

Critical Review: Fagan’s magical novel satisfies those who additionally appreciate history. Prunella’s world is situated in the sixteenth or seventeenth century. When traveling through the Uplands, she is tarred and feathered, and is almost burnt at the stake by Mistress Helen Porter. Thankfully Mistress Porter’s son, Halbert, believes in Prunella’s goodness, bringing her food and defending her before the community. Prunella escapes persecution by successfully defending the Uplanders from ghouls, disembodied hands, and spectral stallions during the Thousandfold Night by producing featherweight charms and shielding sigils. Ultimately she learns that it is better to have a good heart than to be a proper witch. She does find Esmeralda’s grimoire, but leaves it for the life and friendship available in the Uplands.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 10-14 years

Reviews: School Library Journal (2010, June 1)

Similar Materials:  Frances O’Roark Dowell’s Falling In

Subjects/Themes: witches; magic; heroes; self-realization; unconditional love

Character Names: Prunella Bogthistle; Granny Bogthistle; Cousin Ezzie; Miranda; Milo; Yeg; Lord Blackthorn; Jacks/Pogwobben; Skillimug; Mistress Helen Porter; Halbert Porter; Cricket; Rencevin; Esmeralda; Queen Serafine; Barnaby

Author Website: http://devafagan.com/

Brief Annotation: A bogwitch leaves her bogland home, developing a better appreciation of herself through travels with non-magical Uplanders.

Half Magic

Half Magic. By Edward Eager. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade & Reference Publishers, 1999. 208 pages. PB $6.99 ISBN 978-0152020682

Summary: The four Smith children are bored. It’s summer and they’ve already read and reread E. Nesbit’s entire oeuvre. Fortunately Jane, the eldest, saves the day by finding a magic coin on the sidewalk. The children quickly realize that the coin follows precise rules. It will give them only half of what they wish for. Over the summer the children become experts at asking the coin for precisely double the amount desired. However, there is a lifespan of wishes the coin can give to any one child, and with the close of summer, the Smith children’s time with the magic coin is at an end.

Critical Review: In print for over fifty years, Edward Eager’s Half Magic continues to enchant tween readers. Eager’s witty prose sympathetically fulfills children’s need for wonderfully imaginative fiction. The rules that the coin follow are so simplistic, which makes the plot easy to follow and sophisticated at the same time. The four children journey on countless voyages, including King Arthur’s court and the Sahara desert. Ultimately they decide to leave it for another child to find, hopeful that he/she will equally find as much pleasure in the magical token as they did.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 8-12 years

Reviews: Publisher’s Weekly (2005, January 3); School Library Journal (1999, August 1)

Series: Eager’s Magic Series

Similar Materials: E. Nesbit’s Psammead Series: The Five Children and It; The Phoenix and the Carpet; The Story of the Amulet; and other tales such as The Enchanted Castle, and The Magic City

Subjects/Themes: brothers and sisters; libraries; single-parent families; marriage; housekeepers

Character Names: Katharine, Mark, Jane, and Martha Smith

Brief Annotation: A summer of magical fun is on offer for the four Smith children, as they find a magical token that provides half of what is asked. 

Discovering Pig Magic

Discovering Pig Magic. By Julie Crabtree. Milkweed, 2008. 144 pages. Tr. $16.95 ISBN 978-1571316837

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Matilda and her friends Ariel and Nicki find a magic book, and follow a magical recipe to remove problems from their life by burying a ceramic pig, an antique spoon, and a mother-and-daughter doll. Matilda worries about her agoraphobic mother, and longs for the day when her long-departed father will return. Ariel dreams of becoming a famous chef, and Nicki longs for the day when a cure will solve her brother’s chromosomal abnormality. Will the magical spell help keep their friendship alive?

Critical Review: The magical formula initially unleashes a storm of problems. Matilda’s mother’s agoraphobia becomes more severe, and Nicki’s brother’s disorder becomes critical. Ariel is publically humiliated for unknowingly entering another’s recipe in a chef contest. Fortunately, the girls’ problems are only temporary. Niki’s brother survives the traumatic, near-death experience, and Matilda’s mother becomes better. The girls learn that there is no magical solution that will resolve their dilemmas. It is by supporting each other and individual agency that the girls are able to successfully confront their problems and overcome them.

Genre: Fantasy; Humor; Friendship

Reading/Interest Level: 8-13 years

Awards: Milkweed Prize for Children’s Literature, 2008

Reviews: School Library Journal (2009, June 1)

Similar Materials: Ingrid Law’s Savvy; Fanny Billingsley’s Well Wished

Subjects/Themes: friendship; school and education; fantasy and magic

Character Names: Mattie (Miss M.); Ariel; Nicki

Author Website: http://www.julie-crabtree.com/books.html

Brief Annotation: Three tween girls learn a magical lesson when they cast a spell to solve their problems.

The Fire Within

The Fire Within. By Chris D’Lacey. Scholastic, 2007. 352 pages. PB $7.99  ISBN 978-0439672443

Summary: David Rain, a twenty-year-old college student moves in with Liz Pennykettle, an artist, and her eleven-year-old daughter, Lucy. Elizabeth creates clay pottery and dragons, and dragons are visible all over her house. The dragons that Liz creates magically come to life. Animal-loving Lucy is desperate to find the neighborhood one-eyed squirrel, Conker, before her diabolical neighbor Mr. Bacon murders him. She believes that Conker is injured and is in need of help, and with the help of David researches about squirrels in the library. Meanwhile, David, gifted with an authorial dragon of his own to inspire his writing, sets out to craft the epic story of Conker. David has promised Liz that he will keep Gadzooks alive, but can he fulfill that promise?

Critical Review: Readers expecting a magical novel will be disappointed. The dragon portion of this story is minimal. David learns the secret of keeping his dragon alive, through believing in his imagination and sowing good deeds. The Fire Within is very much a realistic novel, focusing on the relationship between strong-willed Liz, her talkative, animal loving daughter, and their boarder, David. Gadzooks’ magical abilities are highly circumscribed. Lucy’s passion for squirrels takes center stage. With the help of David she finds Conker and takes him to the vet. The doctor finds nothing wrong with the animal. However, Conker dies soon after, and is buried in the library garden. The following novels in the series showcase dragons more heavily.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 8-12 years

Awards: Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Nominated for an Award), 2007

Reviews: School Library Journal (2005, October 1)

Series: Dragon Series

Similar Materials: The following books in D’Lacey’s Dragon Series: Icefire, Firestar, The Fire Eternal, and Dark Fire

Subjects/Themes: mythical creatures; squirrels; books and libraries; fantasy and magic; boarders

Character Names: David Rain; Liz Pennykettle; Lucy Pennykettle; Mr. Bacon; Gadzooks; Conker

Author Website: http://www.thelastdragonchronicles.com/

Brief Annotation: A college boarder is gifted with a magical dragon, and helps an eleven-year-old girl find her squirrel.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. By J. K. Rowling. Scholastic, 2005. 672 pages. Tr. $29.99 ISBN 978-0439784542

Summary: Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwart’s school of witchraft and wizardry is off to a disturbing start. The Ministry of Magic has been infiltrated by some of Voldemart’s followers, and Hogwarts is no longer safe for students. Dumbledore is now teaching Harry private lessons, and they’re trying to uncover and destroy all of Voldemart’s horcruxes (i.e. portions of his soul enclosed in everyday objects). Harry Potter is certain that his Slytherin nemesis, Draco Malfoy, is up to trouble, but no one will listen to him. Can he stop Draco before he causes trouble, or will Voldemart win?

Critical Summary: In the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series we learn some truths, which we’ve unconsciously known all along. Professor Snape is secretly working for Voldemart. Harry learns more about his future role through Dumbledore’s lessons. The school community mourns Dumbledore’s death, and Harry plans for his final battle with Voldemart in The Deathly Hollows. This book also begins Harry’s relationship with Ginnie Weasley. Harry has left childhood, and is now blossoming into a young man.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years

Awards: Quill Awards, 2005; New York Times Notable Books of the Year, 2005; Galaxy British Book Awards, 2006; Bilby (Books I Love Best Yearly) Award, 2006; Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2008; Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature, 2008

Reviews: Books in Canada (January 1, 2006), Voice of Youth Advocates (October 1, 2005), School Library Journal (September 1, 2005), Publisher’s Weekly (August 1, 2005), Booklist (August 1, 2005)

Series: Harry Potter Series

Similar Materials: The following books in the Harry Potter Series: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Subjects/Themes: Magic, Witchcraft and Wizardry, Death

Character Names: Harry Potter; Horace Slughorn; Albus Dumbledore; Ronald Weasley; Hermonie Grainger; Ginny Weasley; Draco Malfoy; Severus Snape; Hagrid; Voldemart (i.e. Thomas Riddle); Lavender Brown; 

Author Website: http://www.jkrowling.com/

Brief Annotation: With Dumbledore’s and his friends’ help, Harry Potter tries to outsmart Voldemart and his followers, in the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series. 

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. By Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. Candlewick Press, 2003. 272 pages. Tr. $17.99 ISBN 978-0-7636-1722-6

Summary: Despereaux is the last mouse born to his parents, and the only surviving mouse of the final birth. His brothers and sisters tease him for his abnormally large ears and unusual, un-mouse like behavior. He prefers to read rather than eat book pages, for example. His affinity towards music also leads him towards dangerous acts, as he ventures to hear music performed by the Princess Pea and her father, the King. Despereaux’s father is ashamed at his son’s behavior, and calls the Mouse Council to help. Despereaux’s refusal to apologize for his behavior sends him to the dungeons, where he is expected to face an almost certain death. Magically Despereaux is saved. Instead of being eaten by dungeon rats, Despereaux’s passion for stories makes him an asset to the jailor, Gregory, who protects the young mouse from danger in exchange for stories. In the dungeon, we meet another unusual animal, a young rat named Chiaroscuro. His family members encourage him to terrify prisoners, however, Chiaroscuro only finds pleasure upstairs in the palace, and longs for the beauty and serenity available there. Unfortunately his upstairs romp results in tragedy, as the Queen realizes that a rat is eating from her bowl of soup, and perishes on the spot. Chiaroscuro returns to the dungeons with an ulterior motive; his purpose in life is now to seek revenge on the Princess Pea for humiliating him. He establishes a friendship with a young serving girl named Miggery Sow. Sow’s tale is unique also. Her father sold her for a bit of fabric to an abusive master who daily boxed her ears, turning them into a cauliflower shape and causing her to almost lose her hearing. Miggory Sow dreams of becoming a princess, too, and Chiaroscuro, longing to seek revenge on the Princess Pea, selfishly uses her for his plan. Despereaux loves the Princess Pea, and learning of Chiaroscuro’s nefarious plot, returns to the dungeon to save her from harm.

Critical Review: DiCamillo’s engaging prose magically recreates the magic of fairy tales.  Timothy Basil Ering’s black-and-white drawings beautifully accompany the text, bringing The Tale of Despereaux to life. Children are taught that differences are respectable, even desirable, and that the potential is always there to forgive others’ transgressions. We should always respect our accomplishments, and listen to our inner voices. Differences are indeed beautiful.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading/Interest Level: 8-12 years

Awards: Newbery Award, 2004; Publisher’s Weekly Best Children’s Book, 2003; American Library Association Notable Books for Children, 2004; Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award, 2005; Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award, 2006

Reviews: School Library Journal (October 1, 2004), Publisher’s Weekly (November 10, 2003), Voice of Youth Advocates (October 1, 2003)

Series: Tale of Despereaux Series

Similar Materials: Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane; Robert C. O Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH; George Selden’s The Cricket in Times Square; William Wise’s Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler; E.B. White’s Stuart Little; Lynne Jonell’s Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat; Dick King-Smith’s The School Mouse

Subjects/Themes: Fairy Tales/Folklore, Animal Stories

Character Names: Despereaux; Chiaroscuro (aka Roscuro); Miggory Sow; Princess Pea; Botticelli Remorso; Gregory (the jailor); Lester Tilling (Despereaux’s father); Antoinette Tilling (Despereaux’s mother); Furlough Tilling (one of Despereaux’s older brothers)

Author Website: http://www.katedicamillo.com/

Illustrator Website: http://www.timothybasileringart.com/home.htm

Brief Annotation: A mouse who loves stories and songs meets a rat who wishes he was a mouse, and a girl who longs to become a princess, in this Newbery-Award winning novel.